GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI — Investigators say a man shot Friday in Northern Michigan told the woman who killed him he’d “rather die” than leave her house after an argument in the garage escalated into a struggle with a gun.

Deputies did not specify the relationship between Howard and Mitchell beyond saying they were acquainted, according to a Sunday, March 23 news release.

Mitchell shot Howard at her residence on Black Bear Drive in Long Lake Township just prior to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, police said. Autopsy results were pending Sunday.

The woman, a mother of two children, was not arrested and deputies said they had not determined yet whether any charges would be brought.

Mitchell told 911 dispatchers the shooting was accidental. Deputies found Howard collapsed in the upstairs hallway of her residence, shot once in the upper chest.

There were three children in the home when the shooting occurred; ages 2, 7 and 9. Two of the kids were Mitchell’s, and one was a guest.

Investigators said Howard called Mitchell earlier Friday evening and asked to come over. She picked him up at his apartment in Garfield Township and brought him back to her home on Black Bear Drive.

Investigators said the two got into an argument in the garage, upon which she told Howard several times that he was not welcome and needed to leave.

She went inside to check on the kids when she heard Howard enter and come upstairs, deputies said. She went for a semi-automatic pistol in a bedroom safe “because she was fearful that Howard was going to hurt her or the children.”

She told deputies Howard entered the bedroom and “stated that he would rather die than leave.” He allegedly walked toward her and grabbed the pistol.

“Mitchell stated that she then heard the gun discharge and saw Howard walk out of the bedroom,” read the release. Howard collapsed in the hallway.

The sheriff’s department said more information would be released Monday.